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Warnings About Creosote

Creosote is a distillate of coal tar, consisting of over 100 substances, many of them never individually assessed for their health risks. It has been used as an industrial wood preservative and as a fungicide and miticide because it efficiently kills a wide variety of small organisms. In August 2007, the EPA issued a preliminary warning regarding creosote that covered "site precautions" and "handling precautions."

  1. Site Precautions

    • The EPA cautioned against "frequent or prolonged contact with bare skin." Even brief skin contact, unless the creosote is immediately removed, will result in extreme photo-sensitivity, and subsequent exposure to sun will result in significant burning, shivering, headaches, nausea and even convulsions. The EPA also warned against the use of creosote in "residential settings" generally, especially in areas where it might come into contact with drinking water or food.

    Handling Precautions

    • The 2007 EPA report also cautioned against burning creosote-treated wood and recommended that it be disposed of by burial. Workers handling creosote treated wood should "wear long-sleeve shirts and long pants and use gloves impervious to the chemicals." Safety goggles were also recommended. Although not specifically recommended in the EPA report, some private contractors also supply chemical masks to workers while exposed to creosote.

    Creosote-Treated Railroad Ties in Residential Settings

    • The EPA stated, "There are no approved uses of creosote to treat wood for residential use," and warned against using creosote-treated railroad ties for landscape purposes, specifically rustic stairs and garden borders.

    Long-term Health Hazards

    • Under the terms of the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) workers who have suffered from creosote exposure "can hold...employers liable for damages." According to the Department of Health and Human Services "Public Health Statement for Creosote," 2002, long-term exposure to creosote has been linked to liver and kidney dysfunction and failure, and to skin and scrotum cancer. In short, creosote is both a short-term and a long-term health hazard; its use in all but a few isolated industrial applications should be entirely avoided. No one should ever use creosote in a residential setting.

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